Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday said that although his former job was more rewarding financially, he decided to serve Nigeria for the love of his fatherland.

Speaking in Abuja, Kachikwu who is also the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), revealed that his acceptance to serve the country cost him “at least a million dollars every year.”
According to him, all hands must be on deck to build enduring institutions that would secure the future of the country and improve on the standard of living of Nigerians.

“I believe that this country needs help. I believe that it is about time we began to perform for the young and upcoming. I believe that the sheer capacity of this country is unimaginable. I do not know of any country in the world with our population, our resources, our intellect, our flamboyance, our family nexus, everything is together.

“The call to public service for me was unique. I was Vice President of Exxon Mobil West Africa and I was suddenly called to serve.

“In serving, I lose a lot of money, if not at least a million dollars every year by virtue of being a minister, but the thing is, I am directed by the voice of God,” he said.

Kachikwu said the current economic crunch in Nigeria can be surmounted with the right leadership.

He said Nigerians would not feel the impact of the challenges posed by drop in the price of oil if government properly harnessed other natural resources.

“Everything in this country is together; the only thing that is not together is leadership and in God’s name, we are bound to change that.

“In every little space that you have, and in my own case petroleum, you have to make an absolute change and so I am not worried about price of oil.

“It can be five dollar for all I care. I am worried about the direction of the industry; I am worried about changing things the way they have never done before.

“I am worried about creating opportunities that exist; I am worried about improving the standards of living; I am worried about encouraging opportunities in the sector.

“I am worried about opening up those opportunities that have existed for years,” he said.

Kachikwu called on Nigerians to embrace the new philosophy of the present administration geared towards charting a new course for the country.

He called on Nigerians to bury their differences and contribute their quota to the development of the country.

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Henry

Valuable sacrifice, but please, work the talk. With such positive ideology committed with sincere hard work Nigeria will become a better country. The problem with Nigerian leaders is that they know how to talk, talk all the good policies, but to implement, pursue them to there result base conclusion is the major issue. If Nigerian leaders can implement half of there talks, or put them into real actions, Nigerian would have become a better place than what we have today. So much noise about Zero budgeting in this present adminstration, but at the end it becomes budget of chop chop and less work. May God help Nigeria.

vic

BECAUSE THEY LOOT, THEY CANNOT IMPLEMENT POLICIES BENEFICIAL TO PUBLIC. SO THEY SERVE THROUGH LIP SERVICE AS IN THIS CASE.

vic

YES, KACHIKWU, ALL LOOTERS SAY THAT. IN FACT, THEY SERVE IN POLITICS JUST WITH ONE AIM- TO LOOT PUBLIC FUNDS WITH IMPUNITY. YOU WILL BE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT.

Gman

You my friend are a fool. Must every public servant be a thief? Kachukwu has a better reputation to protect than all your thieves under Jonathan.

vic

i am not a friend to your kind. show me one who is honest. from your foul mouth, you appear to be badly brought up from an abusive family. please refrain from displaying your family characteristics on this forum. trust me, it is not very flattering.

Charles Akpunonu

Your are a true pessimist indeed

vic

thank you mr optimist. it is good for you when you actually see darkness, you say it is light.

Abanigbe S. Adewale

I will not differ from the previous comments. All will need a true leader who can work with sincerity to deliver Nigeria of our dream. Enough of insightful talk. God bless Nigeria

Dr Sam Omale

This is the best thing I have heard out of Nigeria for a very long time. It is also the first time I have heard a serving minister saying of the sacrifices he is making to work for his motherland. This is frank talk and this man must be appreciated and respected. He is a role model for all others. We need more of Dr Kachikwu. If only those fellows in the national assembly can reduce their excesses and begin to bring out productive ideas, Nigeria will be better off.

Bob Peete

Sycophants of the highest order! Inefficiency and economic hardship greeted his tenure. Fuel scarcity. Failed promises. Loss of GDP. Is he still continuing in office?

ChRIS D

this gentleman is not one to loot. please lets appreciate people who are really out to serve.

Alexander

Haven’t we heard far more eloquent sweet talks like this before by those that claims they are serving Nigerians?The test of the pudding is in the eating.let no one says am being tribal because Kachikwu is of the same tribe as me.Nigerians have being painfully lied to and disappointed many times to the extent only fo*ls among us with buy into any sweet talk even if a Man that looks and speaks like jesus is making it.

Oz

Not eloquent talk under PMB leadership.

’70

A very matured speech. This guy is a real leader.

Alexander

You make me laugh ?

’70

& why is that so if i might ask?

TrueNja

This is the kind of people we want as president after PMB.

Oyadefufolly

No one can sincerely blame Nigerians for being pessimistic. Make we siddon look first.

kumi

See thief like father like son why won’t you talk like buhari who is the greatest thief in Nigeria that refuse to help the poor but to say abacha never stole nigeria money apc is a disgrace

D Oladapo

I sincerely believed the minister spoke his well thoughtful ideology. Bukola Saraki spoke in similar vain recently, l don’t really by into this philosophical talks but you have 31/2 years to make your mark and let see what plans you have on your sleeve. Saraki says the same thing, but he has not confessed his sins against the people of Nigeria on behalf of his family for untold hardships they planted on families through first, liquidated depositors’ money and kwara state resources, falsification of records, corruption to mention but few.

EDNAKEMI

Nonsense! But should this guy blow his trumpet by himself? Wouldn’t it be more honorable if it were done from a source far from this self-service style? By the way, is he working for free? Nigerians always amaze me for the way they think. Want to talk of patriotism, please ask people like Mike Bloomberg, former New York Mayor, the multi-billionaire who spent his own money to work for the people. This is the type of person that should make statement like that.

New Nigerian

Kachukwu lead credence to the fact that public service should NOT be about how much accrues to you, but to others. That is good. As for the opportunity cost of his new position, I know he is better off – What Kachukwu looses in $ is more than made up for in name recognition, the privilege of serving under Buhari as a junior Minister and opportunity for a recognized personal brand in public service (How much would he pay for these ?) by virtue of being Minister of State – let him work hard on leaving a good name and a good legacy (These are inestimable).

agbobu

MONEY IS NOT EVERY THING, CONTINUE YOUR GOOD SERVICES TO NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS, POSTERITY AND THOSE YET UNBORN WILL NEVER EVER FORGET YOU AND WILL ALWAYS BE VERY KIND TO YOU.

New Nigerian

Actually if you were to dollarize the intangibles by virtue of his position, he is making out better from total worth standpoint. After all money is what money can buy and some things cannot be bought with money.

TrueNja

This man Kachikwu is a gem, a role model and indeed a blessing to Nigeria. I hope all other serving ministers, governors and public officers emulate him.

Jon West

Too much talk and bluster, the signature tune of the Black man. No way are you losing any money as Minister and GMD NNPC, and I should know. The industry renumeration structure is clear and verifiable. Nobody makes a sacrifice serving the Nigerian people, especially in the petroleum industry . It’s an oxymoron and only a narcissist will try push that idea into the public domain. In any case, you are creating oppornities that already exist? What does that mean? Too much bluster is not good for certain serious positions. You never hear the CEOs of major corporations say these things and Kachikwu will not dare do this as VP Exxonmobil.